Annie Savoy heading to Oaklawn

One of the best performances by a 2-year-old this meet at Sam Houston Race Park was turned in by Annie Savoy in the $50,000 Bara Lass in November. With her dominant win, she remained undefeated in three career starts and could be headed next to Oaklawn Park, according to her trainer, Kari Craddock.

Craddock said Annie Savoy will likely make her next start in the $50,000 Dixie Belle at six furlongs on Jan. 28.

Annie Savoy rallied for a neck win in her debut, which came at Lone Star Park in June. She raced next in November at Remington Park, winning an entry-level allowance on the front end. One start later, Annie Savoy rolled to a strong, 3 3/4-length win in the Bara Lass.

"She's so dear to our hearts, because my last stakes winner was her mother, Miss Diamond Mine," said Craddock.

Racing for Craddock, Miss Diamond Mine placed in multiple stakes at Sam Houston, and won the Carris Memorial at Remington in July 1998. That race was at a mile on turf, and in the future, grass races and routes could be options for Annie Savoy, a daughter of Langfuhr.

"Right now, she's sprinting nicely, so we will just continue to do that for now," said Craddock.

Craddock recently moved nine horses to Sam Houston, and she will be in action over the turf course Wednesday night when she starts leading contender Yoga in a $25,000 claiming sprint. The competitive race also drew consistent horses Ranger B., Forty Milito, Calling Randy, and Lay It on Me.

The feature Wednesday is the eighth race, an entry-level allowance led by Texiano and Devious Thorne.

Surgery for jockey Simington

Jockey Don Simington had surgery on Monday for a torn tendon in the bicep of his right arm. He is expected to be out for three months, following a period for rehabilitation.

"My goal is to return to Houston in mid- to late March," said Simington. "I hope I can ride the tail end of the meet, but we will just have to see how I heal."

Simington, 42, injured his arm a few weeks ago at Sam Houston, and since then has undergone tests near his home in Louisiana. He has not ridden the past few weeks, but ranks fifth in the standings at Sam Houston.

Simington, who picked up his 2,000th career win last June, is a two-time title winner at Sam Houston.

Dreamsandvisions may go to Maxxam

Dreamsandvisions is having a useful meet at Sam Houston, where he won the $40,000 Conroe in his last start Dec. 3. Before that, he was a good third in the $100,000 Star of Texas.

Trainer Steven Duke is looking at all of his next-race options for Dreamsandvisions and said that one he will consider is the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston on Jan. 21. As for a definite long-term goal, Duke said Dreamsandvisions is being pointed for the $40,000 Spring Stakes for Texas-breds at Sam Houston on March 18.

The Spring Stakes is a seven-furlong race, and Dreamsandvisions has won both of his starts at the distance, including the Conroe. He is based at Louisiana Downs, where Duke is also considering him for races at the Fair Grounds meet that runs through Jan. 22.

Track takes a winter break

Sam Houston will race through Friday night this week, then take a winter break. The track will not host live racing again until Jan. 6. During the downtime, there will be simulcasting every day except for Christmas.

When live racing resumes, Sam Houston will move to a Friday through Sunday night schedule for the month of January. For the months of February, March, and April, the track will race from Thursday to Sunday.